Vampiresmight be the most instantly recognizable monsters inhorror moviehistory, but only a few vampire films are scary enough to chill even the most jaded horror fan. Largely inspired by Bram Stoker’s beloved horror novel,Dracula, the evil bloodsuckers have been part of cinema since the very beginning.
Silent movies likeNosferatuintroduced the concept of the vampire into popular culture, and they’ve been a consistent source of nightmares as each new generation puts their own stamp on vampires. Whether they’re suave and aristocratic or violent and animalistic, the vampire offers a wealth of storytelling possibilities for creative filmmakers.
Unlike other movie monsters, vampires tap into a unique set of fears that continue to terrify into the modern age. Early examples likeDracularepresented Western societies' xenophobic paranoia, while later interpretations have contextualized vampires through the lens of deadly addictions or viruses. Regardless, the vampire is meant to represent the corruption of humanity.
That corruption can be sexy and inviting, or that corruption can also be dour and disgusting. The most frightening vampire movies aren’t always filled with pulse-pounding jump scares, but can instead chill the viewer through the sheer horror of their ideas. Vampires as a concept are a nightmarish prospect, and some films understand that perfectly.
There was a playful cheekiness to many ofthe best horror films from the ’80s, andFright Nightbrought classic vampire chills into the beloved decade. A horror-addicted teen suspects his neighbor is a vampire, and recruits the help of a TV actor to stop the nefarious undead monsters.Fright Nightmight be charming ’80s nostalgia, but it’s scary too.
What’s really scary aboutFright Nightis that it shows a teen in trouble with nowhere to turn.
The premise is somewhat funny, butthe movie’s vampires are no laughing matter. Chris Sarandon is absolutely spooky as the villainous Jerry Dandridge, and the vampire makeup is surprisingly shocking for such an upbeat film. What’s really scary aboutFright Nightis that it shows a teen in trouble with nowhere to turn.
2023’sThe Last Voyage of the Demetermight not be the best vampire movie of all time, but it could certainly be considered scary. Fleshing out one of the creepiest parts of the originalDraculanovel, the movie explores how the evil vampire corrupted the crew of the ill-fated ship as it sailed to England.
Draculahas been public domain for decades, but few films have ever bothered to do anything creative with the free intellectual property.Demeter’s version of the vampire is more animalistic, and the cramped environs of the ship make for a claustrophobic experience. Any shortcomings in the film are compensated for with legitimately chilling scares.
By the 1990s, the vampire film had become self-aware and there were several movies which deconstructed the subgenre.The Addictionis a thought-provoking indie film with big stars like Christopher Walken and Lily Taylor in the lead roles.It explores the idea of vampirism as a symbol of moral degradation, a theme in many Abel Ferrara movies.
The black-and-white photography perfectly juxtaposes the movie’s dour tone, andThe Addictionmanages to scare because it’s so nihilistic. It explores what might really happen if someone was turned into a vampire, and the answers are all bad.It parallels real-life addiction issues, and how the sufferer loses a bit of themselvesto the so-called demons they grapple with.
1996’sFrom Dusk Till Dawnmight be one of the most quintessentially ’90s movies of all time, and director Robert Rodriguez deftly blendedaction and vampire horrorinto one project. What starts as a wise-cracking crime thriller soon turns into an all-out vampire nightmare set within the confines of a Mexican biker bar.
The vampires in question are an interesting blend of sexy old-school bloodsuckers with a monstrous side that is utterly revolting. The salacious weirdness is matched by a defeatist tone that makes it clear that survival is not an option. The result isa surprisingly scary movie when the viewer puts themselves in the shoes of the main characters.
Abigailmixes crime thriller elements with comedy, and it also happens to be a pretty frightening vampire story too. A band of dim-witted criminals kidnap a crime kingpin’s daughter but soon learn that the title character is a vicious vampire. Though more funny than scary,Abigailisn’t without its hair-raising moments.
Vampire movies are often quite formulaic, butAbigailadded new wrinkles to the lore that keeps it fresh.
The vampire design is subtle and creepy, made doubly so by the fact that she’s a little girl doing horrific things. Vampire movies are often quite formulaic, butAbigailadded new wrinkles to the lore that keeps it fresh. Behind it all, it’s just a thrilling film that doesn’t hold back on its gory scares.
Adapting the eponymous comic book series,30 Days of Nightwas the most original vampire movie in a long time when it premiered in 2007. The secluded northern Alaska town of Barrow is plunged into night for month-long periods during the winter, which makes it the perfect spot for a vampire invasion.
Though there were two miniseries, the only film sequel arrived in 2010 as30 Days of Night: Dark Days.
Opting for a more animalistic and vicious vampire strain,30 Days of Nightmade small tweaks to the conventional look of the monsters. The clever concept makes for an interesting plot that goes well with the mile-a-minute scares throughout the film. Reviews were mixed, butthe Aughts vampire classicis extra terrifying because of its isolated location.
Though it technically started as a miniseries, 1979’sSalem’s Lotwas cut down into a manageable feature length for subsequent broadcasts. Adapting Stephen King’s book, a writer returns to his hometown to discover it’s slowly being taken over by a vampire menace.Salem’s Lotis a chilling vampire story, butit’s also about the death of small towns.
The movie is a slow-burn that unfolds with menacing tension as every corner of the town becomes corrupted. The vampires' glowing eyes and creepy smiles are nice touches, andthe head vampire is one of the scariest in cinemahistory.Salem’s Lotmight be a bit dated, but age has not diminished the impact of many of the movie’s scares.
Kathryn Bigelow’sNear Darkis finally getting the attention it deserves, and it’s one of the best cult classics from the ’80s. An unsuspecting man is turned into a vampire, and he must join the roving band of bloodsuckers to survive his transformation. The movie blends western themes with action and horror, and the special effects are top-notch.
Unfortunately forNear Dark, it was released the same year asLost Boysand was somewhat overshadowed.
Instead of making vampirism look sexy or cool,Near Darkshows just how nightmarish the condition can be. The villains flee from place to place, avoiding the harsh rays of the sun, and they must resort to horrible violence to quench their thirsts. Unfortunately forNear Dark, it was released the same year asLost Boysand was somewhat overshadowed.
Children are usually off limits in horror, but the Swedish filmLet the Right One Inthrew the rule book out. A bullied tween meets the neighborhood’s new girl but finds out she’s actually a vampire who is responsible for a string of killings.The dark coming-of-age story eschews vampire clichés, and has a visual language all its own.
The scares come from the dark tone and creeping terror that encompasses the main character as he descends into the madness of the vampire. The movie is subtle and slow-moving, butit finds new ways to make vampires frightening. It’s really about isolation, but it uses the ideas of vampire stories to make that concept harrowing.
Director Robert Eggers outdid himself with 2024’sNosferatu, andthe remake of the original cinematic vampire is one of the genre’s best. Borrowing many of the German expressionist visuals from the original silent film, the 2024 version strengthens the vampire’s horrific appeal as he descends upon Europe in search of the object of his devious affection.
Lily-Rose Depp turns in a scene-stealing performance, and she holds her own alongside Bill Skarsgård in yet another monstrous role.The movie is disgusting and sensual in equal measure, and it captures the feel of its time period for added creepiness. Eggers' version was hardly the first remake ofNosferatu, but he succeeded at makingvampiremovies terrifying again.
